The most interesting holidays in the world: a list

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

For those who are not accustomed to the culture of other peoples, other people's holidays will seem at least surprising, and at most - strange. The traditions of other countries are exotic only for us, but for the local population they are familiar and deeply their own.

What is this article about?

Today we will talk about unusual traditions from different countries. There are such interesting holidays of the world that not everyone can understand their meaning. But we will still try to do it.

In the article we have collected interesting holidays in different countries of the world and below we will try to briefly talk about each of them. Of course, this information does not claim to be complete. The list below is far from exhaustive. Yes, and it is impossible to cite one within the framework of one article. But we will try to list at least the most famous ones.

Most of them exist in the form of festivities, some - as any kind of competition. At the same time, great importance is not attached to victories, the main thing is fun and originality. The most important thing for the participants is to have a good time.

The most interesting holidays in the world - list

In the US emerged and quicklyspread around the world (glory to the Internet!) one of them, called the International Pirate Day. Once a year, namely on September 19, on the streets of any cities of the Earth you can meet characters in bandanas and with black armbands, hear gibberish about "piasters" and "thousand devils".

Primous British, destroying the stereotype, invented the world championship of rye. This disgrace is arranged in a city called Egremont (according to unverified data - as far back as 1297). The time of its holding is also September. Fans from all over the world come to make scary faces. The title of the absolute champion belongs to a certain Peter Jackson, who for the sake of victory disfigured himself - pulled out his teeth completely.

What other holidays will we consider? Here is a short list:

• Monkey Banquet.
• Festival of colors.
• Naked Fest.
• Tapati.
• Aphelio.
• Gentlemen's Championship.
• Battle of the tomatoes.
• Summer Redneck Games and others.

And what about the East?

In Thailand (Lopburi province), a banquet called the monkey is held annually. Six hundred "invited" feast, overeating vegetables and fruits in honor of the god Rama. According to legend, it was the monkeys that helped him to defeat the enemy.

And in India (New Delhi) a folk festival is held in honor of the arrival of spring, called the festival of colors. It symbolizes the expulsion of evil and the rebirth of life. At the end of winter, on the new moon (according to legend, this is the day of the death of the evil demon Holika), bonfires are lit in every city - a symbol of the end of winter and the departure of evil spirits. Scarecrow Holikiis burned in the fire, fruits with grains are also thrown there.

The next morning (they celebrate for two whole days) it is customary to have fun, dousing each other with colored water and throwing paints in powders.

And in Japan?

Japan is not far behind. The day, called the Feast of the Naked, has been celebrated since 767. Men come to the temple (23-43 years old and about 3000 in number), wearing only loincloths. According to legend, you can get rid of misfortunes and troubles by touching a naked person.

After accepting purification within the walls of the temple, naked people march through the city and allow anyone who wants to touch them. There are always plenty of those. But it's quite cold in Japan in February, so the members have to warm up with sake. The original name of the holiday is Hadaka Matsuri.

In Japan, it is believed that cold is a means of hardening the body and purifying the soul. Therefore, the climax of the action is fights and dousing with ice water.

…and Easter Island

Know how to have fun on the Chilean Easter Island. Tapati is the name of the festival of worship of ancestors. The inhabitants of the island dance in special costumes and compete in the race with banana bundles - both men and women.

Obligatory procedure - the solemn choice of the queen. Indispensable qualities for a contender for the title are beauty and diligence. It is required to prove to a strict jury that a lot of fish were caught and a lot of cloth was woven.

Let's go back to Europe

England boasts the Gentlemen's Olympics. It is held annually in the openair by representatives of London clubs. The purpose of the event is to remind people of the traditions of English gentlemanship.

Interesting facts about the holidays of the world can be learned by studying history. In Scotland (the city of Lerwick) a holiday called Aphelio is celebrated. In another way, it is called the Great Fire Festival and is considered one of the most unique.

To hold it, a model of a Viking ship 9 meters high is being built. On his nose is a traditional dragon. The task of the Viking squad is to carry the ship to the sea. The procession is accompanied by torches and horns and has almost a thousand participants. In a certain place, a wooden boat is set on fire - this is part of the ancient rite of farewell to the fallen soldiers.

The holiday is dedicated to the Vikings, who landed near the Scottish coast in the 9th century and left their mark on history. It is celebrated in January, on the last Tuesday.

Tomatoes will be thrown at you

Tomatina (battle of tomatoes) is a Spanish festival in honor of the end of summer (at the end of August), taking place in the small town of Bunyol in the east of the country. The folk festival consists of dancing, fireworks, loud music and free treats. It all ends with a tomato battle.

Trucks arrive at the town square with a huge amount of tomatoes, which are usually thrown at each other. Throwing other objects is prohibited. Tomato rivers flow through the streets, doors and windows of houses are covered with plastic, citizens bathe in a pool filled with tomato juice.

What's inAmerica?

Georgia boasts an annual Summer Redneck Games festival. The highlight of the program is the competition of falling into liquid clay. Fans are not embarrassed by dirty rain irrigation, the next sonorous immersion of a participant in a puddle is greeted with deafening screams.

Zombies appear once a year in the center of Canadian Boston - one day is dedicated to their march each year. "Dead" in rubber masks and "bloody" suits roam in search of "victims". I don't think it's a sight for the faint of heart…

Much more positive, in our opinion, is the Havana (Cuba) Cigar Festival, which has international status. It attracts manufacturers and exporters from 47 countries. The program consists of concerts, exhibitions, presentations, visits to tobacco plantations. All events are Cuban cigar themed.

In New Orleans - the world's jazz capital - in May-April, the world-famous Jazz Fest is traditionally held - one of the grandest jazz festivals. Performers perform in indoor and outdoor venues and just on the streets. At the same time, dishes of the famous New Orleans cuisine are sold everywhere - oysters, lobsters, fried eggplants.

What other interesting holidays are there in the world? The list can be continued indefinitely. We decided to go through individual topics.

Themed holidays

Iceland boasts Beer Day (March 1st). The duty of the participants on this day is to drink as much as it fits. On this day in 1989, the “dry law” was canceled, which had been in effect for75 years old. Beer Day is celebrated in bars and restaurants across the country, with most of the active participants being students. Zucchini and pubs are open until the morning, and the number of participants does not decrease, despite impressive prices.

If you want to taste quality English whiskey, go to the festival of the same name in Scotland. This drink is the national pride of the Scots, and a whole series of themed festivals are held in the country every spring.

What's hot

Once a year, the most prestigious producers of this drink open the doors of their factories to ordinary visitors, for whom the entrance is closed at other times. Crowds flock to the whiskey tasting.

The festival program includes meetings with collectors, experience exchange, excursions and sports competitions. Participants can take part in hammer or log throwing, as well as perform at a fashion show in kilts - Scottish skirts.

Flowers - where would we be without them?

If we ignore the alcohol theme, then other equally interesting holidays in the world are dedicated to flowers. So, in Holland in September you can watch the most spectacular spectacle - a solemn procession of flower platforms along the city streets. What is not here! Floral arrangements imitate animals and fairy-tale characters; the procession stretches for a couple of kilometers. This event is known throughout the world as one of the most beautiful and unforgettable flower shows.

Not only in Europe love flowers. In the north of Thailand, in February, an annualbeautiful and very impressive flower festival. The holiday continues for three whole days.

The city is filled with millions of exotic flowers. Beauties sew national costumes to participate in the competition for the title of flower queen. From morning to evening, events are in full swing - fairs, exhibitions, festive processions.

Not to mention the Tulip Festival, held annually in early May in Ottawa. The Canadian capital is drowning in a sea of bright tulips, traditionally sent from Holland as a token of gratitude for help in the fight against the fascist regime. Tulips thus serve as an international symbol of friendship and a sign of spring.

Japan is not far behind. A spring event is dedicated to admiring cherry blossoms - an unofficial holiday that is not on the calendar. But, despite this, a huge number of people gather in the parks, squares and temples of Japan to catch a short period of its flowering. It is customary to admire sakura in the evenings and during the day. The trees are beautifully illuminated, and walking along the alleys is perceived romantically, despite the crowds of people.

Lights and flashlights

Since we have touched on the topic of lighting, let's remember the most interesting holidays in the world dedicated to light. The Berlin Festival of Light leaves a lot of impressions. Every year in October, the city shines with light installations for a couple of weeks. You seem to find yourself in a fairy tale - the facades of houses and monuments are decorated with a myriad of light bulbs and lanterns, fireworks, spotlights and laser shows are everywhere.

In Spainthere is a holiday of fireworks and the most beautiful fireworks, which takes place in March. This is where the pyrotechnics unfold with might and main! You probably will not see such special effects anywhere else.

Florence (Italy) celebrates the festival of lanterns - every year in September, since the 17th century. It is customary to associate it with the birthday of the Virgin Mary, highly revered by Italians.

Historically it is customary to organize fairs and processions of paper lanterns with candles inserted into them.

…and more

But, for example, in the mythology of China, one of the central places is reserved for dragons. And in honor of these creatures in the city of Weifang, an event called the International Kite Festival is organized every April. At the same time, a lively trade is organized in the city and many culinary fairs are organized.

In general, there is always a reason for fun - there would be a desire. If you dig, you will find interesting world holidays in December, January and any other month of the year.

Eat and drink

Are you hungry yet while reading this article? Probably everyone wants to know about the interesting holidays of the world dedicated to food. Well, one of them is the Swiss gourmet festival (the city of St. Moritz). It is held for five whole days at the famous ski resort. The town's restaurants are as famous as its ski slopes.

High cuisine is demonstrated to guests at the famous "Top of the World" at 1800 meters above sea level. The chefs of the worldclass, and in the kitchen, simply miracles begin to happen - you can't say otherwise.

In the best hotels in the city - non-stop culinary reviews, tastings and gala dinners. Guests are invited to be present during the preparation of delicacies and taste the results here. The peak of the program is lunch for 300 people.

Fast to Germany

Who hasn't heard of the famous Oktoberfest - the biggest beer festival in the world! Its location is the Bavarian capital - Munich. The festival opens in September for 16 days.

Traditionally, at the opening ceremony, the mayor of the city uncorks a barrel of beer. This is the start of the beer marathon. All 16 days people destroy beer and enjoy the show program. What is not here! From costumed parades to shooters' parades, from concerts to horse races. Next to the beer halls, dancers in traditional Bavarian leather pants are tap dancing.

During these days, about 7,000,000 liters of beer are drunk and about 84 bulls and a million and a half sausages and fried chickens are eaten. There are 363 additional souvenir shops. The number of tourists coming from all over the world exceeds seven million. The holiday is broadcast live, and it is among those that are included in the Guinness Book of Records for its scope.

Then - to France

And what are the interesting holidays of the world in November? After waiting for this month, you can go to France for the feast of young wine. It starts at the initiative of winemakers from the town of Bozho. With torches from the vine, they march to the city square, where young wine is already waiting inbarrels.

Midnight is the time when plugs are knocked out and Beaujolais Nouveau can begin to be enjoyed. In millions of bottles, young wine travels to shops, cafes and restaurants in all cities and countries. Manufacturers compete to deliver the goods faster.

Not by bread alone…

But what about spiritual food? Here are interesting holidays of the world dedicated to spectacles.

In the world of cinema, of course, the superiority of the Cannes Film Festival (France). This is a prestigious and widely publicized event. For 10 days, Cannes gathers both stars and professionals from the world of cinema, as well as fans of the big screen from all over the world.

Interesting holidays of the world in June are supplemented by such a cultural event as the holding of the Munich Opera Festival (Germany). This is a unique cultural phenomenon on a global scale. It lasts for about a month, starting in June. The place of the main action is the National Theater of Bavaria.

The event has sold over 80,000 tickets. An additional large screen is being mounted in front of the theater on the square for free viewing to 14,000 more spectators.

The festival's repertoire includes the best performances - both new and past seasons, festival premieres of any opera genre. World-class performers perform.

Other events

We should also mention the Venice (ie held in Italy) International Film Festival - one of the oldest events of this level. And also about the "Berlinal" - a similar event in Berlin, held in February andattracting the attention of all Europe. This is a stronghold of auteur and highly intellectual cinema, the jury includes many writers, directors, actors and famous cultural figures. At least 200,000 people visit it.

From the same category - an event dedicated to the presentation of Cesar - the main annual French film award, which has the status of a prestigious award similar to the Oscar.

And, of course, the presentation of the Oscar itself - in the USA. Perhaps this is the most significant award in the world of cinema, and the celebration organized in honor of this event by the American Film Academy at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles is a world-class event.

Summing up

As we can see, the most interesting holidays in the world are for every taste - from folk festivals with rude customs to world-class cultural events. What other events did we not mention in our review?

Probably, giving information about the most interesting holidays in the world and their brief description, it is simply criminal to ignore the famous carnivals in Rio de Janeiro and Venice. What can be said here? Any carnival is a crazy cocktail of costumes, flowers, music and dances. The Rio Carnival is actually a parade of samba schools organized by the city's Ministry of Tourism.

Each of the schools arranges its own mobile platform, thinks over costumes and performances. The winner is awarded a solid cash prize, and the prestige of the school immediately skyrockets.

And what about in Russia?

Speaking of interesting holidays in the countries of the world, we have never mentioned our country.

About the White Nights holiday (its othername - Scarlet Sails), perhaps every graduate of the school heard. The action takes place in St. Petersburg at the end of June.

At night in the summer in St. Petersburg it is as bright as day. The White Nights holiday is a romantic time dedicated to the end of school. As a climax, a ship with scarlet sails appears in the waters of the Neva, and fantastic fireworks bloom in the sky.

As you can see, there are interesting world holidays for every day. Whatever date you take - somewhere in the world people are sure to have fun and celebrate something. And life only benefits from this!